Hotels chains - picking the right one and how to become a loyal guest - Gadling by Scott Carmichael on Jul 2, 2009 Welcome to the Gadling hotel month! There is no better time of the year to learn more about hotels, how to pick the right hotel and how to become loyal to one chain. In today’s article, I’m going to teach you as much as I can about picking the right brand and how to become (and stay) loyal to one chain. Before we continue, let me explain something really simple about the hotels: The world is made up of 3 different kinds of hotels: Chain hotels that are part of a large hotel group Chain hotels with just one brand Stand alone hotels, B&B’s and any other property not part of a group We’ll start with chain hotels that are part of a large hotel group – you’ll find some of their logo’s printed above. These are the leaders of the hotel world (sure, I may have missed a couple), but the bottom line is that a handful of companies own and/or operate a huge amount of the hotels in the world.

There are some pretty big advantages to each sort of hotel operation, and when you pick the right one, you’ll increase your chance of having an enjoyable stay. Chain hotels that are part of a large hotel group Chain hotels are the ones you are most likely to come across when searching for a hotel. Chain hotels are the Starwoods and Hyatts of the world. These chains have been around for years, and the largest of them operate as many as 3000 properties. Of course, none of these companies own every single one of their locations, but they do provide marketing, booking systems and branding for anyone who meets their standards and would prefer owning a branded hotel over just another “hotel”. The most important reason to pick a hotel that is part of a large chain is simple – consistency. Granted, a Hyatt in Spain may not look exactly the same as a US Hyatt, but the hotel will be held to the same standards as its US counterpart. Picking a consistent hotel is great if you want to feel a little more at home. There is something oddly comforting about driving through a weird city, then arriving at your favorite hotel brand. Outside may look, smell and sound different, but inside the hotel, its all vaguely familiar and reassuring.

The largest multi-brand hotel chains in the world are: Starwood – operates the Sheraton, W Hotels, Aloft, Four Points, Le Meridien, Westin, Element and Luxury Collection properties Hilton – operates the Hilton, Conrad, Doubletree, Embassy Suites, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton, Homewood Suites, Home2 Suites, and Waldorf Astoria properties Hyatt – operates the Grand Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Park Hyatt, Hyatt Resorts, Andaz, Hyatt Place, Hyatt Summerfield Suites and Hyatt Vacation Club properties.

Marriott – operates the Marriott Hotels & Resorts, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard, Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites, SpringHill Suite and Marriott Vacation Club properties Choice Hotels International – operates the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality Inn, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban, Econolodge and Rodeway Inn properties Wyndham Worldwide – operates the Wyndham hotels, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate, Baymont Inn, Microtel, Hawthorn Suites, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and Knights Inn properties Intercontinental Hotel Group – operates the Intercontinental hotels, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites properties Carlson – operates the Radisson, Park Plaza, Country Inns and Suites and Park Inn properties Kimpton hotels – operates the Hotel Palomar, Hotel Monaco hotels as well as a variety of Kimpton boutique properties These chains offer something in almost every price range – take for example the hotels that are part of the Intercontinental Hotel Group.

This chain can offer you a $300/night room in their Intercontinental hotel, or a $59/night room at a Candlewood Suites. The hotel you pick will depend on the level of comfort you want, the amenities you desire and of course, your budget. Whichever way you go, this one hotel chain will have 7 different hotel brands to pick from, often with up to 30 or 40 properties within a 50 mile radius. Hotel brands offer more variation than just price and comfort. The hot trend in the hotel world is offering lifestyle hotels. Most chains have opened, or are working on opening at least one brand of hotels focusing on a younger, hipper guest. Starwood has been quite successful in this segment with their Aloft hotels . This spinoff from their (equally successful) W brand offers rooms in a modern environment – you won’t find the old worn carpet at these destinations. A similar brand is being developed by Starwood with a focus on extended stays – their Element hotels are a spin-off from the Westin brand, and offer rooms with a focus on healthy living. 6 Element hotels are already open, with another 20 opening in the coming years.

A good example of another new hotel brand is the Cambria Suites concept which we reviewed here on Gadling . This hotel clearly shows how a hotel operator designed a new brand, and built a fantastic hotel around it. A great benefit of a chain with multiple brands is the ability to earn and redeem points within the chain. If you are a frequent guest at an affordable Hilton property, you can save up all those points, and redeem them for some free nights at a Conrad. Turning cheap stays into free stays at a really expensive property is a fantastic perk. Here are the pros and cons of picking a large hotel chain with multiple brands: PROS: Ability to earn points/free stays within the various brands Easy booking system for multiple brands on a single booking site CONS: Consistency tends to become boring for frequent guests Prices are often higher than local unbranded options Chain hotels with just one brand Single brand hotel chains are owned and/or operated by just one company. Instead of offering multiple brands, they focus on one famous name, and all hotels adhere to that name and the standards set by the brand. Best Western is a good example of this – they operate over 4000 different hotels, in 80 countries.

Unlike the chain hotels mentioned previously, Best Western does this under just one name (technically they also offer several upscale properties called Best Western Premier). The largest / most popular single-brand hotel chains in the world are: Best Western La Quinta Inns and Suites Four Seasons Here are the pros and cons of picking a large hotel chain with multiple brands: PROS: Ability to earn points/free stays within the brand Amenities and services are usually very consistent from hotel to hotel CONS: Often large differences in quality between various properties Despite similar amenities and services, prices can fluctuate greatly between locations Stand alone hotels, B&B and any other property not part of a group The third and final segment of the hotel industry is the stand alone hotel. These hotels usually operate just one or two hotels under their name, and are not part of a chain or other “mother brand”. These properties vary from a 2 bedroom B&B to a 1500 monstrosity in a busy downtown area. Stand alone hotels can often be a much more enjoyable place to stay as you don’t have to deal with corporate rules. That said – smaller chains don’t have the support and technology often found within larger chain hotels.

Investments in new technology are not as common, especially in the booking and reservation systems. Here are the pros and cons of picking a single hotel or a very small chain: PROS: Hotels often offer a more comforting environment, without the busy branding of a large chain Properties can often be more personal for frequent guests CONS: Frequent guest programs are only available at one property making it harder to earn points/free stays Booking systems are often primitive or hotels do not participate in large third-party booking engines like Expedia or Hotels.com Picking the right hotel is not too hard – if you just need a hotel for your yearly trip, your most important factor is going to be availability, amenities and budget. A vacation hotel won’t be better or worse for you if it is part of a larger chain. If you are a more regular traveler, then it really does start to pay to pay attention to your brand loyalty. With generous bonus awards and perhaps an affinity credit card, you could be on your way to a free stay after just 4 or 5 nights. I recommend signing up for every program you can, and trying to avoid staying at a hotel without being part of the frequent guest program.

Even if you never stay with them again, adding your membership number to your reservation will save you the hassle of having to request the points after your stay. If you are traveling for work, be sure to pick a hotel chain committed to offering the services and amenities you need – don’t settle for a chain that has the balls to charge for Internet access. If you start to stay at a chain on any regular basis, you’ll slowly start to see the rewards of that loyalty. Besides the obvious stay bonus, you may be eligible for a room on a “preferred floor”, and you may even get access to the hotel lounge. To burst your bubble and dreams of the hotel penthouse – a real valued guest is someone who’ll stay with the hotel chain over 75 nights a year. That entry level silver or gold card is going to be generally useless. Before you move all your dollars to one chain, do the math and check whether it is going to be worth aiming for the top tier. If you only have 10 nights planned all year, the platinum or diamond tier is going to be way out of your reach. Once you do hit a high(er) tier, it may be time to shop around for a new chain.

When I traveled for work, I was top tier with 3 hotel chains, but when one of them screwed up (badly), I decided to see whether brand X was interested in my business. As it turns out, they were, and a quick fax of my statement with hotel brand Y got my status “comped”, as well as some other perks that made it worth my while to switch my business. Bottom line is that you should pick a hotel that makes you feel welcomed – if you don’t like the vibe of a specific hotel brand or chain, find something that fits your style. With so many new hotel concepts, it isn’t too hard to find the style that fits you best. You no longer have to settle for a boring room with a flower pattern comforter and a loud window mounted AC unit. HOTELS Accor is a French multinational corporation, operating in nearly 100 countries. Headquartered in Courcouronnes, Essonne, France. Accor Hospitality, the Accor hotels branch, has more than 4,000 hotels worldwide, ranging from economy to luxury. Ace Hotel is a boutique hotel chain founded in Seattle, Washington and currently headquartered in Portland, Oregon.

It operates hotels in Seattle, Portland, New York and Palm Springs. Ace Hotel are known for their campy, bohemian aesthetic. Adam's Mark is a former chain of upscale hotels in the United States. The company is based in St. Louis, Missouri. While once numbering nearly 30 large hotels, because of financial difficulties and changing corporate strategies, the chain sold off most of its properties and now is down to its last remaining location. Affinia Hotels is a chain of boutique hotels offering business and leisure travelers a variety of accommodation options in in Manhattan, Chicago and Washington D.C. Affinia Hotels is operated by DHG (Denihan Hospitality Group), a privately-owned company. Affinia Hotels is a member of an alliance of hotels including Joie De Vivre (California), Thistle Hotels (United Kingdom), Rotana Hotels (Middle East) and First Hotels (Scandinavia). Aman Resorts is a chain of luxury resorts, primarily found in Southeast Asia.

The word "Aman" is Sanskrit for "peace." Each resort is characterised by a small number of rooms (typically less than 55) and minimalist architecture designed to complement the location’s natural settings while utilising an indigenous building style and materials that reflect the culture and country in which it is located. Apex Hotels Ltd is a UK operator of four star hotels, owned by former accountant Norman Springford and his family. Based in Edinburgh, the company operates the Apex International, City, Waterloo Place and European hotels in Edinburgh, the Apex City of London and London Wall hotels in London, and the Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa in Dundee. Aston International is a hotel management chain in Southeast Asia. Aston International entered the Southeast Asian market in 1997 and has an underlying portfolio consisting of more than 50 properties including hotels, condotels, resorts, serviced apartments and boutique villa resorts, of which 23 are operational and 30 are under development. Avari Hotels is a Pakistani chain which manages hotels in Pakistan, Dubai, and Toronto, Canada.

It was founded by Dinshaw Avari and is now run by his son Byram Dinshawji Avari, the CEO of Avari Hotels Ltd, and his two sons Dinshaw and Xerxes. Avari's three hotels in Pakistan are the Avari Towers, Karachi, the Avari Lahore, and the older Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi. B Barceló Hotels UK (formerly the Paramount Group of Hotels) is the UK division of the Spanish privately owned group Barceló Hotels & Resorts. Barceló UK operate 21 4-star hotels in locations across Scotland, England and Wales. Hotels are situated in city and town centres, coastal resorts and countryside retreats. Baymont Inn & Suites is a hotel franchise owned by Wyndham Worldwide and based in the United States. Biltmore Hotels was a chain created by hotel magnate John McEntee Bowman. The name evokes the Vanderbilt family's Biltmore Estate, whose buildings and gardens within are privately owned historical landmarks and tourist attractions in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. The name has since been adopted by other unrelated hotels. Boscolo Hotels is a Italian hotel chain, part of the Boscolo Group. Chez Hotels Inc.

is a recently started hotel chain, with 146 (135 Current + 7 Under construction + 4 Planned)hotels in all 50 States of the USA. Unlike other chains, which are often a mix of company-owned and franchised units, each Chez hotel is an independently owned and operated franchise in fact each hotel is named after the last name of the person(s) who own it such as Chez Martin, Chez Young, Chez Reagan. Choice Hotels International is a hospitality holding corporation which owns several hotel brands and is based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Club Méditerranée, commonly known as Club Med, is a French corporation of vacation resorts found in many parts of the world, usually in exotic locations. It is seen by many as having started the all-inclusive resort concept (although Frenchman's Cove Resort in Portland, Jamaica is regarded as the world's first all-inclusive resort). Conrad Hotels is an international brand of upscale luxury hotels and resorts owned and operated by the Hilton Worldwide. Conrad was considered the luxury flagship brand in the Hilton Family of Brands, named after company founder Conrad Hilton, until being supplanted by the The Waldorf-Astoria Collection in 2006.

CHI Hotels & Resorts (Previously Corinthia Hotels International) is a hotel management company that provides technical assistance and management services to hotel owners worldwide. CHI is the exclusive operator and developer for the luxury Corinthia Hotels brand as well as the Wyndham and Ramada Plaza brands in Europe, Africa and The Middle East. Crest Hotels Limited was a Bass-Charrington subsidiary operating the hotel interests of the brewery company in the United Kingdom. Crest's headquarters were in the former Hunt Edmonds brewery premises in Banbury, Oxfordshire. Crowne Plaza is a chain of full service, upscale hotels catering to business travelers and to the meetings and conventions market. The brand is owned by the InterContinental Hotels Group. The hotels are usually located in city centres, resorts, or near major airports. D Danubius Hotels Group is the largest hotel group in Hungary, with 56 hotels located in Hungary, Great Britain, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania. Days Inn is a hotel chain headquartered in the United States. Founded in 1970, it is now a part of the Wyndham Hotel Group, based in Parsippany, New Jersey, which was formerly a part of Cendant.

Days Inn China is the registered trademark of Days Inns Worldwide for Greater China market. Established in 2004, Days Inn China is one of the fastest growing hotel chains in China today, with hotel franchise and management agreements in more than 40 cities. Delta Hotels is a chain of 44 hotels and resorts across Canada. On October 2, 2007, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation announced that it had acquired Delta Hotels. The hotel chain was formerly a 100% holding of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. Denizen Hotels was launched to be the eleventh member of the Hilton Family of hotels The Hilton Family of Hotels. The brand aimed at marking Hilton's entry into the global lifestyle brand sector. However, due to a current standing legal situation, Denizen's development has now been halted and the brand is considered "dead". Drury Hotels, LLC, or Drury Hotels is a St. Louis, Missouri based corporation that operates over 130 hotels in a 20 state area. The hotels operated by the company are generally in the lower to upper mid-range in terms of cost and quality.

Dusit Thani Group of Companies, also known as Dusit Thani Public Company Limited is a Bangkok-based hotel and resort company. It is the owner of the Dusit Thani Hotel in Bangkok as well as hotels in Myanmar, the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. In all, the company owns and operates 19 hotel properties E Embassy Suites Hotels is a chain of upscale all-suite hotels trademarked by the Hilton Worldwide. As of Feb. 7, 2009, there are 190 properties across the United States and Canada. The Eppley Hotel Company was located in Omaha, Nebraska. At the time of its acquisition by the Sheraton Corporation in 1956, it was the largest privately-held hotel business in the United States. Etap is a European chain of basic-service budget hotels owned by the Accor Group. There are several branches in major cities and close to transport hubs like the Eurotunnel terminal in Coquelles. Eurostars Hotels is a luxury hospitality brand based in Barcelona, Spain, launched in January 2007, and is fully owned by The Hotusa Group.

At the beginning of July 2007, Eurostars Hotels comprised 43 hotels in 26 cities, in 10 countries worldwide. F Fairfield Inn by Marriott is a lower cost brand of hotels that are franchised by Marriott International. The intended use is for guests requiring simply a place to sleep with fewer amenities. Hotel Formule 1 is an international chain of "super low budget" or "no frills" hotels owned by the Accor Group. There are in excess of 380 hotels in 13 countries worldwide. Hotel Indigo is a chain of boutique hotels, part of the InterContinental Hotels Group. Hotel San Francisco is a hotel chain located in Colombia, South America. Howard Johnson's is a chain of restaurants and hotels, located primarily throughout the United States and Canada. Howard Johnson hotels are now part of Wyndham Worldwide, formerly a part of Cendant. Hyatt Hotels Corporation is an international operator of hotels. The Hyatt Group operates several chains of hotel. The Hyatt Regency brand is the oldest brand in the Hyatt hotel chain, with the Grand Hyatt and Park Hyatt brands being introduced in 1980.

Of these properties, some are styled as "Resort" properties, and may feature spas or other recreational facilities I ITC Welcomgroup Hotels, Palaces and Resorts is India's second largest hotel chain with over 100 hotels. ITC Welcomgroup is also the exclusive franchisee of The Luxury Collection brand of Starwood Hotels and Resorts in India. Iberostar Hotels & Resorts (Spanish: Iberostar Hoteles y Apartamentos S.L.) is a hotel chain based in Spain, specializing in 4 and 5 star hotels. It is owned by Grupo Iberostar, which also owns Iberostate Golf, Villas & Condos and Iberoservice, its incoming tourism division Ibis is an international hotel company, owned by Accor hotels. It has 800 hotels in 40 countries around the world, with over 370 in France and most of the remainder elsewhere in Europe. InterContinental is a brand of upscale luxury hotels, founded by Pan Am, under Juan Trippe, and now owned by InterContinental Hotels Group. The chain operates over 200 hotels and resorts in approximately 75 nations.

Isrotel Hotels Management(1981) Ltd. is an Israeli hotel chain. Most of its hotels are located in Israels southern city of Eilat. At the end of 2008 Isrotel operated 12 hotels, J JAL Hotels (JAL Hotels Company Ltd.) is the Japanese-owned global hotel chain. The hotel chain comprises Nikko Hotels International and Hotel JAL City chains. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is an upscale international Swiss hotel chain. The hotels are primarily 5-star resort hotels and business/airport hotels. The chain currently operates more than 90 hotels in 26 countries; 34 hotels are under construction and are set for completion by 2010. N NH Hotels (officially NH Hoteles SA, is a Spanish-based hotel chain offering moderately priced and modernly-furnished hotel rooms and lobbies, located primarily in Europe, Latin America, and Africa. NH Hoteles ranks third in the European ranking for business hotels. Novotel is one of a number of hotel chains owned by the French hotel group Accor. Whilst most numerous in France, more than 410 Novotel hotels are found throughout the world.

O The Oberoi Group, founded in 1934, owns or operates 26 hotels and 3 cruise liners in five countries. Omenahotelli is a chain of hotels in Finland. It is known for cheap rates and self-service. There is no reception desk or receptionists in the hotels - rooms are booked and paid for on the Internet. The customer then receives a passcode which unlocks the front door and the room for the duration of the stay. R RIU Hotels & Resorts is a hotel chain jointly owned by tour operator TUI AG and the Riu family. The company, in 2007, is Spain's second largest hotel chain with 45,000 beds in 110 hotels in 18 countries. Radisson Hotels & Resorts is a worldwide chain of 435 hotels, with a total of 102,000 guest rooms, in 61 countries. Raffles Hotels & Resorts is a collection of luxury properties located in major cities around the globe.

Raffles Hotels & Resorts is owned by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, a Canadian-based hotel company with over 88 hotels in 27 countries worldwide under the Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel brands. Ramada is a hotel chain owned and operated by Wyndham Worldwide. Under Cendant's (and now Wyndham's) ownership, Ramada franchises Ramada Inn, Ramada Limited, Ramada Plaza and Ramada Suites in the United States and Canada. Ramada itself no longer directly or indirectly owns or operates any of the Ramada hotels. Red Lion Hotels Corporation, formerly the WestCoast Hospitality until 2006, is a US corporation operating in the western United States and Canada through three subsidiaries: Red Lion Hotels, WestCoast Hotel Partners and TicketsWest. Red Roof Inn is an economy hotel chain in the United States. Red Roof Inn properties are often distinguished by the large dark-red shingle roof that gives them their name. There are over 340 Red Roof Inns, with locations primarily in the Midwest, Southern, and Eastern United States. Sino Hotels (Holdings) Limited is a hotel operator based in Hong Kong but incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

It is affiliated with Sino Land Company Limited in Hong Kong and the Far East Organization in Singapore. Sino Hotels operates four hotels and a yacht and country club. Sofitel is a luxury hotel chain managed by Accor. It operates 192 hotels internationally, on six continents. Sokos Hotels is a Finnish hotel chain. It is the biggest hotel chain in Finland with hotels in 26 different cities an municipalities. It also has one hotel in Tallinn, Estonia and three in Russia. It is part of S Group. Starhotels is a privately-owned hotel chain based in Florence that operates 22 luxury hotels (20 in Italy and one each in Paris and New York City). The chain was founded in 1980 by Ferruccio Fabri and is operated today by his daughter Elisabetta Fabri The Statler Hotel company was one of the United States' early chains of hotels catering to traveling businessmen and tourists. It was founded by Ellsworth Milton (E. M.) Statler in Buffalo, New York. StayOrange.com Hotel is a no-frills chain of hotels operated by Carlton Holiday and conceived by Michael Yong Kar Moh, Deputy Secretary General of the Malaysian Retail Chain Association (MRCA).

Suitehotel is a chain of 3-star luxury hotels owned by the Accor Group, it is a relatively new fast growing chain targeting families and businessmen. Summerfield Suites, is a hotel chain owned by Global Hyatt. Global Hyatt has since developed an extended-stay prototype for converting Summerfield Suites hotels to a new Hyatt-branded extended-stay product. There are now 28 Summerfield Suites located around the US. Super 8 Motels Inc. is the world's largest budget hotel chain, with motels in the United States and Canada, as well as newer properties in China. The company is a subsidiary of Wyndham Worldwide, formerly a part of Cendant. Sutton Place Hotel is a collection of luxury hotels located in Canada and United States, owned and managed by The Sutton Place Grande Hotels Group with office in Vancouver, BC. Traveller's Inn is the largest hotel chain in Victoria, BC, Canada. The chain itself currently consists of ten properties located in downtown Victoria and two additional properties; one of located just outside the downtown core of Victoria and the other located in the Cowichan Valley. Travelodge refers to several hotel chains around the world.

Current operations include, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Ireland and Australia; however, many of these are operated by independent companies who have no connection with the brands operating in other countries. Trident Hotels are five-star hotels owned and managed by The Oberoi Group. Presently there are nine Trident hotels in India. These are located in Mumbai, Gurgaon (Delhi National Capital Region), Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Cochin, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur. Major Players: Largest hotel groups in the world | Focus | Breaking Travel News Major Players: Largest hotel groups in the world 6th Aug 2012 IHG has held on to its top position in the global league table New research from MKG Group has revealed the shifting tectonic plates of the global accommodation sector, with some major moves in the top ten ranked hotel groups worldwide. Among the most interesting has been the rise of Chinese group Home Inns, which literally doubled its capacity thanks to the takeover of Chinese competitor Motel 168. The move, completed at the end of 2011, dislodged Carlson Rezidor from ninth position and squeezed Hyatt Hotels out of the top ten.

With development twice as strong as the average of leaders, especially in Asia-Pacific and Latin America, the Accor group also strengthened its fifth position in 2012. Accor is also progressively reducing the gap separating it from the fourth step of the podium, with Wyndham Hotel now looking over their shoulders. While there was no change at the very top, with IHG sitting pretty, the significant growth of the supply of Hilton Worldwide has allowed it leapfrog into second position at the expense of Marriott. Top Brands The classification of the top twenty brands worldwide does not reveal any spectacular changes. Only the noteworthy growth of Hilton Hotels against the drop of Comfort Inn allows the star brand of the eponymous group to win a position in the classification. Holiday Inn completes the restructuring of its network around the New Generation concept that required it to adapt to the new standards by the end of 2011 or be forced to leave the network. With its mono-brand approach, Best Western continues to dominate the classification, nonetheless regrouping properties from different categories between Best Western, Best Western Premier and Best Western Plus. Home Inns makes its entry in good standing in the club of 20.

With the steady development of its brands, especially Ibis and Mercure, Accor strengthens the position of its star brands and even makes Mercure climb a step. “Capacity growth in 2011 by leading global groups and their primary brands remains globally modest and relies in great part on franchise development,” said Georges Panayotis, president of MKG Group. “Investors have difficulty finding the proper financing in countries in the Western block and it is only by remedying the under-supplied hotel industry in emerging continents that the growth dynamic can be maintained. Top Ten Global Hotel Chains 10: Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group: Established in early 2012 when global hospitality giant Carlson joined forces with the Rezidor Hotel Group, the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the largest and most dynamic accommodation organisations in the world, with a portfolio of 1,100 hotels. With a global footprint covering 80 countries, the chain controls a powerful set of global brands - including Radisson Blu; Radisson; Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, Park Inn by Radisson; Hotel Missoni; and Park Plaza.

Speaking following the merger of the two brands earlier this year Rezidor president Kurt Ritter said: “The goal of this development is to generate more attractive financial returns for the owners and greater value for all shareholders, to be perceived by business partners around the world as one global hotel company, to offer more compelling and consistent value propositions to the guests, and to offer global career and development opportunities to the staff.” The group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Brussels, Belgium. 9: Home Inns: Home Inns & Hotels launched operations in 2002, since which time its flagship brand, Home Inn, has become one of the best-known economy brands in China. Now the largest budget operator in the country, based on the number of hotels and hotel rooms, the group offers a product focused on the fast growing population of value-conscious travellers. With the acquisition of Motel 168 at the end of 2011 Home Inns & Hotels took another giant stride forward, adding a further 295 locations to its portfolio.

With its mid-to-upscale brand Yitel, launched in 2008, also going from strength-to-strength, Home Inns & Hotels can expect to move further up the league table in the near future. 8: Best Western: Best Western International, headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, is a privately held hotel brand made up of more than 4,000 Best Western, Best Western Plus and Best Western Premier hotels. Stretching operations across more than 100 countries, the brand is this year celebrating 66 years of hospitality. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests nightly, Best Western provides its hoteliers with global operational, sales, marketing and promotional support, and online and mobile booking capabilities. In the second half of 2012, Best Western Premier hotels are scheduled to open in new markets including: Dominican Republic, Haiti, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nairobi and Oman. 7: Starwood Hotels & Resorts: Starwood Hotels & Resorts operates 1,112 properties in nearly 100 countries and employs more than 150,000 people. It is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St.

Regis, The Luxury Collection, W, Westin, Le Méridien, Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft, and Element. The Company also boasts one of the industry’s leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest, allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. 6: Choice Hotels International: Choice Hotels franchises approximately 6,200 hotels, representing more than 495,000 rooms, in the United States and more than 30 other countries and territories. As of June 30th, 2012, more than 375 hotels were under development in the United States, representing more than 30,000 rooms, while another 75 hotels were set to join the group overseas. The company operates the Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, Sleep Inn, Clarion, Cambria Suites, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge and Rodeway Inn brands. The Ascend Hotel Collection membership program also serves guests worldwide.

5: Accor European market leader Accor is present in 92 countries with more than 4,400 hotels and 530,000 rooms under management. Its portfolio of hotel brands - Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons/ibis Styles, Etap Hotel/Formule 1/ibis budget, and hotelF1 - provide an extensive offer from luxury to budget. With more than 180,000 employees in Accor brand hotels worldwide, the Group offers to its clients and partners nearly 45 years of know-how and expertise. Accord recently confirmed it would sell the Motel 6 brand - which comprises a chain of more than 1,000 budget motels in the United States – to the Blackstone Group for $1.9 billion. The sale is expected to be completed in October 2012, with Accor set to slip down the list in 2013.

4: Wyndham Hotel Group: Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide family of companies, operates over 7,170 hotels and approximately 608,300 rooms in over 66 countries. The group controls a number of brands including: Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate by Wyndham, Baymont Inn & Suites, Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and Knights Inn. In addition, the company has license agreements to franchise the Planet Hollywood Hotels, Dream and Night brands and provide management services globally. All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham and TRYP by Wyndham hotels as well as certain international Ramada, Days Inn and Super 8 hotels. Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, New Jersey. 3: Marriot International: Based in Bethesda, Maryland, Marriott International is a leading lodging company with operations in 74 countries.

The group operates 3,700 properties and reported revenues of over $12 billion in fiscal year 2011. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 17 brands, including: Marriott Hotels & Resorts, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriott, Bulgari, EDITION, Renaissance, Autograph Collection, AC Hotels by Marriott, Courtyard, Fairfield Inn & Suites, SpringHill Suites, Residence Inn, TownePlace Suites, Marriott Executive Apartments, Marriott Vacation Club, Grand Residences by Marriott, and The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club. There are approximately 300,000 employees at headquarters, managed and franchised properties. 2: Hilton Worldwide After 93 years, Hilton Worldwide remains a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxurious full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and mid-priced hotels. Its brands are comprised of more than 3,800 hotels and timeshare properties, with 630,000 rooms in 91 countries.

They include: Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites Hotels, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton Hotels, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages the world-class guest reward program Hilton HHonors. 1: InterContinental Hotels Group: Since 2004 InterContinental Hotels Group has been the largest hotel group in the world - today operating over 650,000 rooms. The recently launched EVEN and Hualuxe brands join InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites, and Candlewood Suites in a portfolio of over 4,000 hotels. IHG also manages Priority Club Rewards, the first and largest hotel loyalty programme in the world, with over 63 million members globally.

Older Christchurch outlines Garden City recovery plans Newer List of Big Hotel Chains | GolfLink.com List of Big Hotel Chains List of Big Hotel Chains SHARES By Chad Buleen When you are on your next golf trip, you may want to find a reputable hotel to ensure that you get a comfortable night's rest so that you can have the energy you need while on the golf course. Many of the biggest hotel chains have several hotels that feature golf courses. InterContinental Hotels Group InterContinental Hotels Group features seven different types of hotels. These hotels include InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Hotel Indigo, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites hotels. InterContinental Hotels Group hotels are frequented by 180 million guests each year. There are 630,000 rooms and 4,300 hotels spread across 100 countries. One of the nicest hotels is the Mar Menor Golf Resort & Spa in Spain. It features a nine-hole golf course.

Mar Menor Golf Resort & Spa Torre Pacheco, Murcia, Spain 30700 34-902-500322 Wyndham Hotels Wyndham Hotels Group has several hotels which it owns and operates. In fact, it owns more than 7,000 hotels. The hotels that fall under the Wyndham umbrella include Ramada, Days Inn, Super 8, Wingate, Baymont, Microtel, Howard Johnson, Travelodge and Knight's Inn. Wyndham was named to "FORTUNE" magazine's list of "Most Admired Companies" in 2009. The Wyndham Westwinds hotel in North Myrtle Beach is a fun place for golfers to stay. Not only does the hotel offer direct access to the beach, but there are also dozens of golf courses within a few minutes drive. Wyndham Westwinds North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582 (800) 989-1848 Marriott Hotels Although the Marriott hotel is the best known hotel in the Marriott group, there are several other hotel brands under the Marriott flagship.

Some of these brands include Renaissance Hotels, Courtyard by Marriott, Residence Inn by Marriott, Fairfield Inn by Marriott and TownePlace Suites by Marriott. In all, Marriott employs nearly 150,000 people. The Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort features the acclaimed Rookery at Marco Golf Course. Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort 400 South Collier Blvd. Hotel Chains Zuri Hotels Small chain of six luxury resort hotels, four of them in India (Bangalore, Goa & Kerala), one in Kenya and one, The Liner, in Liverpool. * n/k = Not Keen You could maybe find a phone number if you delved deep into their website, but it's obvious they'd prefer you to book or query online! I think this is bad practise. Notes I don't know what to call the Orient Express Hotels collection anymore (because they are not just hotels), and neither, it seems, did they, so they've renamed themselves Belmond (July 2014) to bring a little "clarity to our brand architecture". It is a global collection of luxury hotels, restaurants, safaris, and travel experiences including rail (6 trains) and river cruises (3).

Edition Hotels are a new joint venture between Marriott and Ian Schrager . Contemporary luxury, "exclusive" (no riff-raff) boutique (Schrager invented the term), hotels. The first is in Istanbul and the second will open in London (former Berners hotel) in the autumn 2013, with more planned for New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Abu Dhabi and Gurgaon. Franklin Hotels & Resorts (Formerly 'Stein Group') is a collection of five elegant hotels in Italy, Mallorca, London and Beijing. Hip Hotels is an online guide to cool hotels around the world. The Maybourne Hotel Group has just three hotels in London, but what a collection - The Berkeley, The Connaught and Claridges. Chapter Hotels are a newish hotel brand in the UK from the Swire group. The idea is to put contemporary hotels in traditional buildings and central locations in UK towns and cities. There are two so far, in Exeter and Cheltenham. The Register is a guide to UK hotels with ABTA, the British Hospitality Association, and National Tourist Boards as Associate Publishers.

Refreshingly - like Travel-Lists - it is one of the few places on the Internet where you can research accommodation that they are NOT trying to sell. Dakota opened its first hotel on the outskirts of Nottingham in July 04. That one has gone but there are two stylish Dakotas in Scotland. Abode Hotels is a cool UK hotel chain launched (Jan 06) by the chef at Gidleigh Park in Devon (2-star Michelin), Michael Caines and hotelier Andrew Brownsword. With four hotels, it falls just short of the threshold for the above list. ...As does Bridgehouse Hotels with four country house hotels in England. ...Likewise Tomahawk Hotels whose 'thing' is to take grand old buildings and renovate them into stylish new upmarket hotels. They have three in Leeds, Sheffield and Bradford. ...Do I detect a trend? Is it time for a new list? A. And another. nitenite cityhotels , launched in 2006, is a new generation of budget hotels for cost-conscious travellers who don’t always need views or lots of space.

(So the 104 compact rooms in their first property, the nitnite Birmingham, have high-tech electronics and stylish furnishings but only 7 sq metres of space and no windows). nitenite plans to launch 30 hotels in the next five years in the UK and Ireland, Europe, USA, Canada and Argentina. Tune Hotels are an expanding Malaysian brand with seven hotels in Malaysia, one in Bali and one in London (Westminster). The concept is budget hotel with upmarket facilities and high quality beds. Someone missing? You cannot submit a website for this list but you can suggest one for me to look at. Travel Lists - where Brits start their holiday research While every effort is made to verify the information published on this site, no responsibility or liability is accepted for any errors, omissions, or changes. Always check with the relevant vendor, company, or organisation for details of their service, prices & availability. Travel-Lists.co.uk has no connection with, and is not responsible for, the products, services or actions of third parties listed on this site. If your company is not listed on this page and you think it should be, you can make a submission (pay-to-review) here .

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Question: What large hospitality chain owns and operates the mid-priced Courtyard hotel chain?
Answer: Marriott